Malcolm Brogdon agrees to two-year extension with Pacers worth $45 million

Brogdon, who can no longer be traded this season, is signed through 2025 with $89.3M guaranteed

The Indiana Pacers have secured guard Malcolm Brogdon to a two-year contract extension worth $45 million that will pay him a total of $89.3 million over the next four years, Brogdon's agent tells ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Brogdon's original deal would've ended after the 2023 season, but this new extension won't make him an unrestricted free agent until 2025.

Brogdon's coming off a career year in Indiana, where he averaged 21.2 points, nearly six assists and 5.3 rebounds. Since signing with the Pacers two years ago, Brogdon has lived up to expectations in Indiana, though injuries have caused him to miss important time, including the team's two play-in games last season. 

When he's at full health, he's a significant piece of Indiana's core for the future, in addition to Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, Caris LeVert and TJ Warren. When those five players are able to be on the floor together, it should contend for a playoff spot in the East after missing it entirely last season. 

Aside from securing Brodgon to a longer deal, this extension also means that he cannot be traded this season, which has significant implications for the Ben Simmons trade market. The Pacers were reportedly one of the teams interested in trading for the disgruntled All-Defensive guard, but the Philadelphia 76ers remained unmoved by a package centering around Brogdon and LeVert. Now, with Brogdon ineligible to be traded, that takes Indiana out of the running for a Simmons deal.

By giving Brogdon more years to his current contract, it signals that Indiana would rather focus on its core as is, and hope that new head coach Rick Carlisle can get this group not just to the postseason, but past the first round.